19th June - Towards Bordeaux; Rochefort, Ronce-les-Bains, Royan, Port Maubert

Back at Au Petit Port I was chatting to a biker from Bordeaux. He said the north side of the Gironde had great roads close to the river, so that's the direction I'm heading.

Rochefort. A charming town with market on Sunday; but would you buy any of it? Three sherry glasses, not crystal, one chipped. Complete junk the lot, can't imagine anyone sold a thing all day, just a social outing.

That said I liked Rochefort. a nice town. Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.

So I'm still not on the banks of the Gironde yet so on towards Royan at the mouth of the estuary.

Royan, this is impressive, an ultra modern glass

and concrete building tacked onto a classic waterfront Chateaux.

Take a look at the steps, would you say this might be a devout household?

Well into the wine country and on to Port Maubert for the night. Got there in the dark but the gate was open so attempted to reverse the trailer in the dark only to jacknife it against the bike and bent the rear quarter of the van. At this rate the van is going to be a wreck in no time! Hardly anyone on the rather run down campsite, still I'm not staying.

Port is a slight stretch, narrow inlet more like. I guess for the French 'Port' is anywhere you can tie up a dingy.

Well into the Bordeaux wine country now

.